Driving mechanism for cigarette-filling machines or the like



June 1 1926. 1,587,087

A. J. SCHMIEDEL muvme MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE FILLING momma: on THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21, 1925 'Patented June 1, 1926.

ALFRED JOI-IANNES SCHMIEDEL, OF.DRESDEI T, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO UNI- VEBSELLE CIGARETTENMASCHINEN-FABRIK, 3'. C. Mll'LLER (it CO.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE-FILLING MACHINES OR THE LIKE.

Application filed February 21, 1925, Serial No. 10,837, and in Germany December 11, 1923.

In many machines, as, for example, cigarette filling machines, cigarette case machines or the like, intermittent operation is necessary.

The present invention relates to a construction of driving mechanism in which a crank driven from a continuously rotating shaft by means of a connecting rod operates an intermittently acting gear element.

The tendency in modern cigarette machine construction is to increase the output by increasing the speed of operation. Now, if the arrangement is such that the working stroke of the connecting rod is limited by the two dead center positions of the crank, that is, if the intermittently acting element is brought from initial zero speed to maximum speed, with a high speed of the crank there is such an abrupt starting of the driving mechanism of the machine that, for example, in cigarette filling machines the band for shaping the cigarette rod may slip beneath the tobacco, which will result in attenuation of the cigarette rod at some points and accumulation of tobacco at other points; also the tobacco may be so much shaken up that the mixed ingredients separate and the finer particles fall to the bottom.

According to this invention, with the object of obviating these drawbacks, the connecting rod is not joined directly to the cank but is joined to a lever the fulcrum of which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the crank, and which has a longitudinal slot engaged by the crank pin.

The two axes are so spaced that the lever performs a rocking movement, the crank radius being less than the distance between the axes.

Within the region of the two limiting positions of the rock lever the crank pin travels in the slot without effecting any marked oscillatory movement of the lever, so that the lever is gradually entrained without abrupt increase of speed. The crank pin, when effecting working movement of the lever in that part of its path directed away from the lever fulcrum, has a larger travel than in that part of its movement towards the fulcrum of the lever, when effecting the return oscillation of the lever. Preferably that oscillatory movement of the lever which corresponds to the longer path of the crank pin is utilized as an operative movement in actuating the connecting rod. In any event,

, farther fromthe crank.

Preferably the lever consists of two parr allel arms disposed one behind the other looking in the direction of the axis of the crank. The connecting rodis joined to the free end of that one of the arms, which is The other arm is formed with a longitudinal slot engaged by a slide block journalled on the crank pin. in the mid position of the lever, the connecting rod is about perpendicular thereto.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of a mechanism according to this invention.

Fast on the driving shaft or is a crank disc 6 carrying the crank pin 0 on which is r j ournalled the slide blocked. The slide block is movable in a longitudinal slot 6 formed .in a lever f mounted to rock upon a bolt or fulcrum g the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the shaft a and which is spaced from said shaft a distance exceeding the crank radius.

In front of the lever f on the side remote from the crank disc is a second lever h, which is secured on the boss 2' of the first lever 7. The lever h is parallel with and extends in the same direction as said lever j. Joined to the lever h is theconnecting rod 70, which is pivoted at Z to the intermittently acting wheel m. The wheel m is preferably formed as a free wheel gear element. The shaft n carrying the wheel at constitutes the driving shaft of the driving mechanism of the machine.

In the rotation of the crank the two levers f and it rock in unison. Near the points of reversal of the rocking movement the crank pin with the slide block (Z performs an effective movement in the direction of the length of the slot 6, so that the levers are only gradually accelerated from zero position.

Depending on the inclination of the rock lever f in its two end positions the crank pin is longer effective in its excursion away from the fulcrum 9 than in performing the part of its excursion towards the fulcrum 9 corresponding to the return oscillation of the lever. The longer crank movement is utilized for performance of the working movement of the connecting rod Z2. Hence, there is obtained a long operative phase and a brief idle period.

It may be observed that also the lever is provided with an elongated slot 0 in order to be able to shift the position of the engagement with the connecting rod to obtain a longer or shorter throw.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a drivin mechanism for a cigarette filling machine or the like, a driven c ank pin, a lever composed of. two parallel 1 g dly connected arms arranged one behind the other relative to the axis of the crank pin the arm nearer the axis of said crank having a longitudinal slidoway for said pin, means for transmitting intermittent movement to said machine and a conncctii'ig rod between said means and the other of said arms, the fulcrum of said lever being at a considerable distance from the path of said crank pin, so that during part 01 its circular movement the crank performs a movement substantially in the longitudinal direction of said slideway and during said movement of the driving connected arms arranged one behind the other relative to the axis of the crank pin, the arm nearer the aXis of said crank having a longitudinal slideway for said pin, means for transmitting intermittent movement to said machine and a connecting rod between said means and the other of said arms, and forming a right angle with said lever in the central position of the latter, the fulcrum of said lever being at a considerable distance from the path of said crank pin, so that during part of its circular movement the crank performs a movement substantially in the longitudinal direction of said slideway and during said movement commences the operation of the driving mechanism of the machine.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ALFRED JOHANNES SCHMIEDEL. 

